Ron’s #21: Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis

This is C.S. Lewis’s autobiography on his journey from atheism to theism to Christianity. What more do I need to say to get you to read this book?

I loved this book, but it was not as easy a read as I thought it would be. Lewis is immersed in authors and poems that I’ve never heard of, and he assumes the reader is following along nicely. He name-drops more than a D-list celebrity at the Green Room club on Hollywood Boulevard. While the reader need not know all the poems referenced, it would help understand Lewis’s train of thought better. At the very least, one would need to understand Romanticism to a beginning degree to follow along.

Throughout his school life, Lewis continues to search for Joy (his capitalization) that connects to something in our hearts for something bigger. This Joy turned to be our heart’s longing for its Creator.

Here are a few excerpts that show the power of Lewis to turn a phrase:

“All Joy reminds. It is never a possession, always a desire for something longer ago or further away or still “about to be.”

“Joy is not a substitute for sex; sex is very often a substitute for Joy. I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not substitutes for Joy.”

“The horror of the Christian universe was that it had no door marked Exit.”

“A young man who wishes to remain a sound Atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. There are traps everywhere…God is, if I may say it, very unscrupulous.”

“The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men, and His compulsion is our liberation.”

Ron’s #52: Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis

The story begins with this excellent opener: “I am old now and have not much to fear from the anger of gods.  I have no husband nor child, nor hardly a friend, through whom they can hurt me.  My body, this lean carrion that still has to be washed and fed and have clothes hung about it daily with so many changes, they may kill as soon as they please.  The succession is provided for.  My crown passes to my nephew.”

I decided on this novel as my final book of 2011 after reading Mere Christianity. I love Lewis’s writing style, and I wanted to finally read this. This book is one that I’ve owed for some time. I bought this on my birthday in 1997. I know this because I still have the receipt in the book for a bookmark. I’ve started Till We Have Faces many times, but never getting beyond a chapter or two. I was frightened away by the subtitle—“A Myth Retold.” This is a version of the myth of Cupid and Psyche. If you are like me, you know little of that story. I kept telling myself that I’ll learn the myth before reading the Lewis version. I never did the first so I never got to the second. I grew tired of avoiding it, so I wanted to read it. To hell with the Psyche story (there’s a bit of a joke in that…)!

This is Lewis’s most challenging work; it is the one that he stated was his favorite, one that he has mentally worked on for years. It tells the story of Queen Oruel, her beautiful sister Psyche, and their beloved Greek tutor know as the Fox. Psyche is sacrificed to the god Ungit (Aphrodite), where she becomes more real and alive. Oruel, unwilling to believe that she is happy with her amorphous husband, challenges and defies the gods.

The novel is filled with dualities. Orule is ugly while Psyche is beautiful; Fox is rational, and the King is romantic; Lord Bardia has two “lovers”; the world is divided with Gnome and the Grey Mountains; Oruel fights to stay alive and not consumed by herself as the queen. There are even two books in this.

I wish that I could report that an understanding of Cupid and Psyche is not needed to fully enjoy this novel, but that is not true. While I did enjoy the story and the writing, I often felt like I was missing a greater portion of the tale because of my ignorance. However, readers can still find great value in reading this novel because Lewis is so vivid and clear in his style.

In addressing how insignificant our lives are next to the gods, Oruel adds this comment that I have been thinking about since yesterday:

(On the death of her father) “Yet I have often noticed since how much less stir nearly everyone’s death makes than you might expect. Men better loved and more worth loving than my father go down making only a small eddy” (214).

Till We Have Faces was a challenging end-of-the-year read, and I was glad to end with this work. If you have read it and can offer insight into the ending, I’m all ears.

Ron’s #51: Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis

As I have mentioned before, C. S. Lewis is my favorite author. I understand that this is not a novel pick; most Christians would say the same if asked. It’s been said that Lewis is the only patron saint of Evangelicalism. There is something about his writing that is irresistible. One may disagree with his claims, but it is difficult to deny his gifted writing style. Because of the latter, it is often hard to do the former.

Mere Christianity is a must-read for Christians (See a few others I posted before), and it makes a clear treatise for the logic of both theism and Christianity. It was birthed from a series of radio talks that Lewis made on the BBC during WWII, and later edited for publication. Whether or not you call yourself a Christian, this slim volume will offer a clear, concise case why Christianity makes sense.

This is not actually the best apologetics book if you are looking for answers to specific difficult questions in the Christian faith. Rather, it takes on general topics such as: is Jesus who he says he is; is there such a thing as absolute morality?; and is Jesus Christ God?

No other writer has had the impact on me as a reader and a thinker as Lewis has. His books change, strengthen, inform, and inspire me. In my post for #48, I discussed the influence that Robert Cormier had on my reading life. If that is true, then C. S. Lewis had an even far great influence on my Christian reading life. To him, I’m grateful. Because of this, I’ll be reading and rereading Lewis for as long as I’m alive. There is no other author about which I can make the same claim.

Except maybe for the guys who write Spiderman comics.

For those in Okinawa: We have our monthly Apologia meeting on Wednesday, January 25, to discuss the second half of this book. Read it and join us!

Mark's #51 - Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Mere Christianity is widely recognized as a classic of the Christian faith.  Lewis appeals to a broad range of Christian traditions, from theological conservative to liberal.  Originally given as radio addresses during WWII and a few years following, C.S. Lewis tried to explain and defend the basics of the Christian faith. I have read this book more times than any other book outside of the Bible (perhaps five or six times now).  On this reading I realized two things; First, I can see where much of my own thinking and preaching has been deeply influenced by Lewis in general, and Mere Christianity in particular.  Second, as I grow in my own understanding of theology, I realize more and more where I disagree sharply with some of Lewis' thoughts on Christianity.  For example, Lewis' philosophical and apologetic reliance on his view of 'free will' is much more arminian in thinking than mine.  In addition, Lewis seems to presuppose the validity of human evolution, as well as a kind of universalism through salvation of adherents of other religions if they are sincere (something he also implies in The Last Battle in The Chronicles of Narnia Series).

Some have even argued that Lewis is very much like Rob Bell in these areas.  However, these are not focal points or even essential teachings of Lewis (whereas it seems that Bell is doing just this, or at least capitalizing financially on these issues).  Furthermore, there is much to be gained from Lewis' thinking and apologetics.  Therefore I would continue to encourage believers and non-believers alike to read carefully through this classic book.

Jim's #26: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

What a classic!  I don't really have a ton to say about the book since I'm sure everyone that's reading this has already seen the movie and most have probably read the book.  It was great.  A great story line, wonderful character development, and altogether fun and engaging.  After reading the Magician's Nephew first, it is clear through some references in this one, that this was meant to be read first.  Jon Freiburg's comment on my last post points to a neat article in Christianity Today on the chronology of the anthology. Again, the depiction of Aslan as the Christ figure was great to read.  There were other biblical features that Lewis through in that I thought were particularly neat.  The deep magic of course referred to the law and the broken stone table simulating the torn veil.  Aslan's words to Lucy and Susan on the night of his death were neat as well, instructing them to keep him company, but only to a certain moment, after which he would need to proceed on his own like the Garden of Gethsemane.  After his resurrection, it was the girls who were the first to see him as well and then he went to the Queen's castle itself to free the souls she had claimed.  So many references yet they weren't forced in any way and if you weren't looking for them, I could see missing them altogether.  I spose that's part of what makes the series so universal.

I think my favorite part of the book, however, was the pictures of Aslan, both in his playful, loving manner as when he was playing with the girls after his resurrection, and his ferocious, fearsome demeanor towards all things dark.  His emotions throughout the book were captivating in themselves.  His is certainly not a tame lion, but he is good.

JRF's #2 - Fern-seed and Elephants (and Other Essays on Christianity) by C.S. Lewis

Ok.  I know I got carried away with this one.  There were just so many quotable quotables!  I promise to try and shorten these reviews from now on.

This book is a collection of essays and papers by Lewis I picked up in a second hand bookstore in England about 10 years ago and never got around to reading until now.   As with all of Lewis' writings that I have read so far, while I find myself disagreeing at times, I always am challenged and edified by the thoughts of this brilliant Christian thinker.

Here is a "brief" overview of each essay:

• Membership: Lewis explains that being members of the Body of Christ is something radically different than the “unity” so eagerly sought and so energetically peddled by the world. Unity in the worlds' eyes is more properly identified as uniformity. Being a member of the living Body of Christ is more than being a homogenous unit in a collective. Lewis reminds us that being “members” of Christ’s Body isn’t being a “member” of a club but being a “member” in the sense of a body part – “what we should call organs, things essentially different from, and complementary to, one another.” He explains that the beauty of the Body of Christ comes exactly from the fact that we are all different from each other, not exactly alike, yet all in submission to, in love with, and united to and by the head which is Christ. He explains that it is the love of Christ for us, and not any inherent man-centered source, that gives value and true equality to the members of His body. In a very counter-cultural (even for today’s churches) statement he says:

“It is idle to say that men are of equal value. If value is taken in a worldly sense – if we mean that all men are equally useful or beautiful or good or entertaining – then it is nonsense. If it means that all are of equal value as immortal souls then I think it conceals a dangerous error. The infinite value of each human soul is not a Christian doctrine. God did not die for man because of some value he perceived in him. The value of each human soul considered simply in itself, out of relation to God, is zero. As St Paul writes, to have died for valuable men would have been not divine but merely heroic; but God died for sinners. He loved us not because we were loveable, but because he is Love. It may be that he loves all equally – he certainly loved all to the death – and I am not certain what the expression means. If there is equality it is in his love, not in us.” P. 20-1

and:

“True personality lies ahead – how far ahead, for most of us, I dare not say. And the key to it does not lie in ourselves. It will not be attained by development from within outwards. It will come to us when we occupy those places in the structure of the eternal cosmos for which we were designed or invented. As a colour first reveals its true quality when placed by an excellent artist in its pre-elected spot between certain others, as a spice reveals its true flavor when inserted just where and when a good cook wishes among the other ingredients, as the dog becomes really doggy only when he has taken his place in the household of man, so we shall then first be true persons when we have suffered ourselves to be fitted into our places.” p.23

one more:

“…we have in our day started by getting the whole picture upside down.  Starting with the doctrine that every individuality is ‘of infinite value’ we then picture God as a kind of employment committee whose business it is to find suitable careers for souls, square holes for square pegs.  In fact, however, the value of the individual does not lie in him.  he is capable of receiving value.  He receives it by union with Christ.”  p.24

• Learning in War-time: Lewis speaks to Christians who were struggling with the decision of whether or not to continue their studies while WWII was raging.

"...every Christian who comes to a university must at all times face a question compared with which the questions raised by the war are relatively unimportant.  He must ask himself how it is right, or even psychologically possible, for creatures who are every moment advancing either to heaven or to hell, to spend any fraction of the little time allowed them in this world on such comparative trivialities as literature or art, mathematics or biology...The war creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it."  p. 27

"The work of Beethoven, and the work of a charwoman, become spiritual on precisely the same condition, that of being offered to God, of being done humbly 'as to the Lord.'"  p. 32

"The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable."  p. 36

• On Forgiveness: Lewis compares/contrasts God's forgiveness with our forgiveness of others.

"...the trouble is that what we call 'asking God's forgiveness' very often really consists in asking God to accept our excuses...there are two remedies for this danger.  One is to remember that God knows all the real excuses very much better than we do.  If there are real 'extenuating circumstances' there is no fear that he will overlook them...the second remedy is really and truly to believe in the forgiveness of sins.  A great deal of our anxiety to make excuses comes from not really believing in it: from thinking that God will not take us to himself again unless he is satisfied that some sort of case can be made out in our favor."  p.40-41

"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you."  p.43

• Historicism: In this essay, which is the longest and my least favorite, Lewis takes to task "the belief that men can, by the use of their natural powers, discover an inner meaning in the historical process." (p. 44).  While Lewis makes an exception for "divine revelation", he basically says that it is folly to confidently discern the ultimate meaning and purpose of historical events because we are not privileged to all of the facts.

"a single second of lived time contains more than can be recorded"  p. 55

"'The important parts of the past survive.'  If a historian says this (I am not sure that most historians would) he means by 'importance' relevance to the particular enquiry he has chosen."  p. 56

"The philosophy of history is a discipline for which we mortal men lack the necessary data.  Nor is the attempt always a mere waste of time: it may be positively mischievous.  It encourages a Mussolini to say that 'History took him by the throat' when what really took him by the throat was desire.  Drivel about superior races or immanent dialectic may be used to strengthen the hand and ease the conscience of cruelty and greed."  p 59-60

• The World's Last Night: This essay explores the importance of and the reasons for the tragic neglect of the doctrine of the Lord's imminent return.

"It seems to me impossible to retain in any recognizable form our belief in the divinity of Christ and the truth of the Christian revelation while abandoning, or even persistently neglecting, the promised, and threatened, return."  p. 65

"This passage (Mark 13:30-2) and the cry 'Why hast thou forsaken me"' (mark 15:34) together make up the strongest proof that the New Testament is historically reliable.  The evangelists have the first great characteristic of honest witness: they mention facts which are, at first sight, damaging to their main contention." p. 70

"Women sometimes have the problem of trying to judge by artificial light how a dress will look by daylight.  That is very like the problem of all of us: to dress our souls not for the electric lights of the present world but for the daylight of the next.  The good dress is the one that will face that light.  For that light will last longer."  p 84-5

• Religion and Rocketry:  An amusing and interesting essay on the effects that the discovery of extra-terrestrial life would possibly have on our theology.

"Each new discovery, even every new theory, is held at first to have the most wide-reaching theological and philosophical consequences.  It is seized by unbelievers as the basis for a new attack on Christianity; it is often, and more embarrassingly, seized by injudicious believers as the basis for a new defense.  But usually, when the popular hubbub has subsided and the novelty has been chewed over by real theologians, real scientists and real philosophers, both sides find themselves pretty much where they were before."  p. 86-7

"No creature that deserved Redemption would need to be redeemed." p.88

"I have wondered before now whether the vast astronomical distances may not be God's quarantine precautions." p.93

• The Efficacy of Prayer: Self explanatory.

"The essence of request, as distinct from compulsion, is that is may or may not be granted...Invariable 'success' in prayer would not prove the Christian doctrine at all.  It would prove something much more like magic - a power in certain human beings to control, or compel, the course of nature."  p.97

"Simply to say prayers is not to pray: otherwise a team of properly trained parrots would serve as well as men for our experiment"  p.98

"As for the lady who consents to marry you - are you sure she had not decided to do so already?  Your proposal, you know, might have been the result, not the cause of her decision. " p.99

• Fern Seed and Elephants: One of the best defenses of the historical-grammatico hermeneutic I have read.

(responding to Bultmann's claim that '...the tradition of the earliest Church did not even unconsciously preserve a picture of [Christs'] personality.  Every attempt to reconstruct one remains a play of subjective imagination.')  - "So there is no personality of our Lord presented in the New Testament.  Through what strange process has this learned German gone in order to make himself blind to what all men except him see?"  p.109-110

"These men ask me to believe they can read between the lines of the old texts; the evidence is their obvious inability to read (in any sense worth discussing) the lines themselves.  They claim to see fern-seed and can't see an elephant ten yards away in broad daylight."  p. 111

"Once the laymen was anxious to hide the fact that he believed so much less than the vicar: he now tends to hide the fact that he believes so much more."  p. 125